Conduct your own oral history

If you are interested in doing your own interview about World War II, here are some sample questions from The National WWII Museum:

SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR INTERVIEWING A WWII VETERAN

What is your full name?

When and where were you born?

What were you doing before the war?

Were you married or single?

Where were you when you found out about Pearl Harbor?

Did you enlist or were you drafted?

What was your branch of service?

When did you enter service?

Where did you enter service?

Where did you receive your basic training? Describe basic training.

What weapon(s) did you qualify on during basic training?

What qualification level did you achieve? What was your military specialty? Describe the people you trained with in basic training.

When did you deploy overseas?

What theater of operations were you in? What was your port of embarkation for deployment?

How long did it take for you to reach your theater of operations?

What type of equipment were you issued before you were deployed overseas?

Were you involved in any invasions? (If “yes” please describe)

Were you ever taken under enemy fire? (If “yes” please describe)

Did you return fire? (If “yes” please describe) What was the food like?

Did you admire your commanding officer?

Did you admire the people you served with? Were you wounded? (If “yes” please describe) Did you get enough sleep?

Where were you on V-E Day?

Where were you on V-J Day? When did you return to the U.S.?

How long did you serve overseas?

What are some of your most memorable experiences during WWII?

Did your service affect the rest of your life? If so, how?

What lessons for today’s generation would you like to pass on?

Is there anything I forgot to ask you about your service during WWII?

SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR INTERVIEWING SOMEONE FROM THE HOME FRONT

When and where were you born?

What were you doing before the war?

Where were you when Pearl Harbor was attacked? Did you have any family members who served in the military?

If so, how did your family life change due to their absence?

What are your memories about rationing?

Did you participate in scrap drives?

What about War Bond rallies?

Did your family or anyone you know plant a Victory Garden?

Did you or anyone you know work in a defense industry?

Do you have any special memories about celebrating holidays during the war?

What are your most profound memories of the war?

What are your memories of D-Day? V-E Day? Where were you and what did you do when you heard the war was over?

How did you feel when the war ended?

What were some of your most memorable experiences during WWII?

Did WWII affect the rest of your life? If so, How? What did you do after the war?

What lessons for today’s generation would you like to pass on?

Is there anything I forgot to ask you about your life on the home front?